SAT timing for rolling admit school

Parents Forum
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<p>We're looking at some schools (for fall 2013 application season) that begin accepting apps in September, and issue admissions decisions on a rolling basis, starting in October. They continue accepting applications into the new year. If you are not satisfied with 11th grade SATs, and plan to retake in early November or December, is it better to apply immediately, supplementing with the new SAT scores if they are better, or simply wait to apply after you have those SAT scores?</p>

<p>What have people's experiences been with applying in September or October to rolling admissions schools, while waiting on November or December of 12th grade scores (that come out in late November or early January)? Scores don't always go up on subsequent sittings.</p>

<p>On the one hand, the early bird might have an advantage with rolling admissions -- it may be better to enter the applicant pool promptly. At least they know you're motivated about that school. On the other hand, perhaps they act on the applications as they come, and if your application is not complete it's better not to submit anything until you've seen your 12th grade SAT scores and you know what you're stuck with, by way of scores. </p>

<p>I guess each college has its own position on whether it is willing to hold aside applications that would appear to be complete, inasmuch as transcripts, scores and recs are all in place, but the applicant has notified the school that additional scores will be coming. I would call and ask. But If they do hold your file open for consideration of additional scores, and the scores are lower than the ones from 11th grade, what do you do then? At the very least, I guess you have to tell them "never mind about those additional scores, go ahead and process the application." That wouldn't help, but it might not be held against you, either.</p>

<p>If you hold off on applying until December or January when you've seen your 12th grade scores, knowing that you can still make the formal application deadline, it seems you could still compromise your chances of acceptance by having applied late in the game. To the extent that they are composing a balanced class of different types of kids, your "box" may have been filled in October, while you were sitting on your hands.</p>

<p>The concern about scores is based on the belief that the 11th grade scores will leave the applicant in a relatively weak position for that school. To be weak on stats AND come in toward the end of the process, at a rolling admissions school, seems doubly limiting.</p>

<p>Has anybody had experience with this?</p>

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<p>hi Fieldsports- I think the answer to your questions probably depends upon the specific schools you are applying to and where the SAT score stands in relation to the applicant pool.</p>

<p>Assuming that you submit the SAT scores early, and are not accepted, some schools will reconsider your application if you provide updated information like test scores or midyear grades. At other schools you only get one bit at the apple.</p>

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<p>Interesting. It sounds like it’s very school-specific, so a phone call to each in September, to ask about their procedures, is surely in order. I’m sure they’ll tell us whether they will hold a file open when they’ve been notified that additional scores are in the pipeline. I’m not sure that they can (or will) be as specific about the potential value of applying early in the season, or whether you waive any benefit of filing early, by asking them to hold the file while waiting for second scores. My hunch is that most of them would look at it once, when they consider it complete, and the fact that they received some parts of it in September might not matter. Of course, there’s some practical benefit to simply having the rest of the application off your desk and onto theirs, in September or October.</p>

<p>We’re assuming that the stats are at the edge of the 25th percentile for the school – not so low that it’s crazy to apply, but far from assured. I am also willing to concede that subsequent sittings of the SAT are not likely to produce significantly better scores. Anything is possible, but not all things are likely.</p>

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<p>Is there a reason you think the junior year scores would be disadvantaging? Back in the day, we all took SATs junior year…once, in June.</p>

<p>Kids in our local high school often start taking the SAT in January of junior year and have time for maybe three bites at that apple before the summer.</p>

<p>My daughter did the March sitting and it worked fine for her. She’d covered all the math necessary by that time.</p>

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<p>@fieldsports- this is somewhat offtopic of your post, but I’d hesitate to apply to very many schools where the SAT score is near the bottom 25%. If you have some indication of likely SAT scores now, I’d look for “target” schools where GPA/SAT is solidly in the middle or on the high side of the mid 50%.</p>

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<p>A student who wants to retest in the fall might want to consider the ACT which has a September test date.</p>

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<p>We asked this very question at one of the schools we visited and were told that they consider the completed application and then if more information (later SAT, mid term grades) comes in later it is reviewed again in light of the new data.</p>

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<p>It’s not uncommon in our area for kids to take the SAT three times during junior year.</p>

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<p>Sylvan, was that a rolling admissions school, or a school that releases one big wave of acceptances and rejections in the spring?</p>

<p>If it’s rolling admissions and they had rejected an applicant, did they say that they would reconsider the rejection during that same year on the basis of additional information?</p>

<p>As a practical matter, are the rolling admissions schools equally quick to send out acceptances and rejections? Or do they send acceptances quickly, when they get a hot prospect, and hold onto the pool of applications that they see as potential rejections; waiting to see what else comes in?</p>

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<p>@fieldsports- rolling admissions practices vary by school - so I doubt that generalizations would be too helpful. You will get the best information by simply calling the admissions office and asking the question directly.</p>

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<p>It was a rolling admissions school. They typically would continue admitting students until the class is full. If additional information came in during this window, a student could get further consideration. At some schools you might have to submit an appeal saying that there was more (better) information which might positively affect the decision.</p>

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<p>“hi Fieldsports- I think the answer to your questions probably depends upon the specific schools you are applying to and where the SAT score stands in relation to the applicant pool.” Pamom59</p>

<p>That is right. It depends on your scores. You you are in the range of the school, you should be fine. If not, wait until you get hte SAT score up and them submit the app. best of luck!</p>

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<p>Some schools our kids looked at will not accept test scores after the application was submitted so you will want to look into that. Some schools would take additional test scores for merit aid possibilities only. </p>

<p>One thing we have heard over and over again at various campus visits is to take a test at least twice but not more than 3 times :D.</p>

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<p>D’s experience:</p>

<p>SAT March junior year, a bit disappointing</p>

<p>SAT again June junior year, good enough for schools she was interested in</p>

<p>October 1st senior year, submitted application to first choice school that had rolling admissions</p>

<p>Third week in October, received acceptance and merit aid to to choice school.</p>

<p>Mid October, early action application submitted to second choice school just in case</p>

<p>Early December, acceptance to second choice school with merit aid.</p>

<p>She was done, just needed to wait for interviews for additional competitive scholarship at first choice school.</p>

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<p>SAT March a bit disappointing, plan to retake in June
SAT - subject tests May - 2 great scores, one not good enough by a long shot (2 schools require 3), so change of plans, subject tests again in June
SAT - subject tests June - retakes 2 for giggles and gets +10 on one and -10 on the other, but does much better on a different 3rd test
SAT - October virtually the same score as June</p>

<p>Says he’s done, gets into a reach EA despite SAT scores that are top 25% in CR and bottom 25% in math. Come April he’s into 2 more reaches, and rejected by 3 even more selective reaches.</p>

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<p>I appreciate all of this input. Clearly, it pays to check with each school for their procedure in the fall of 12th, but it is still helpful to hear about other people’s experiences.</p>

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<p>I think if you know you want to apply rolling admissions, it makes some sense to gear up to start taking the standardized tests this coming January. Get a prep book and have the student sit down with it and see how it goes. There are multiple sittings available in junior year if you start early enough.</p>